ROLE OF TUBER DENSITY IN POTATO SLOUGHING

A new CPEM method was developed and used to study the cooking curves of two potato varieties showing differences in texture and of one variety cultivated in four different regimes. The two main cooking curve stages (i.e., cooking and disintegration) can be described by simple linear equations, with density as an independent parameter. The parameters in the equation describing the cooking stage were reformulated to express directly the role of starch. The two new parameters obtained were weakly correlated and expressed separately cooking time sensitivity to starch content and the basic potato characteristic in relation to sloughing. Data obtained indicate only a minor role of starch content during the first part of cooking that is determined primarily by basic potato characteristics probably related to the cell wall properties. In the second stage of disintegration, starch content plays a more important role.     

Influence of stirring speed on the synthesis of Al/SiC based functionally gradient materials

In the present study, thick aluminum–silicon carbide based functionally gradient materials, with starting weight of 18% SiC were successfully synthesized, using different stirring speeds and an innovative gradient slurry disintegration and deposition technique. The results revealed, in common, an increase in: (a) the weight percentage of SiC particulates, (b) the clustering tendency of SiC, (c) porosity and (d) microhardness, and a reduction in grain size with increasing distance from the base of the functionally gradient material ingots. The results of X-ray diffraction studies indicated no evidence of interfacial reaction products. Furthermore, results revealed an increase in stirring speed increases the homogeneity of SiC particulates' distribution, thus resulting in a decrease in the average gradient of reinforcement along the deposition direction. An attempt is made in this study to establish the trend between processing parameter such as stirring speed with the gradient of SiC particulates realized in the ingots.     

The influence of the sequential extractions on the structure and the properties of single cell materials from apples

In order to evaluate the influence of disintegration on the structure and the properties of single cell wall materials from apples, parenchymatic single cells (MM) were extracted step by step with water (BM), chelating agents (CH), sodium chlorite/acetic acid mixture (CO) and sodium hydroxide/NaBH₄ (CA). The composition and the structure parameters of the dried materials obtained showed enhanced cell wall disintegration in the order MM, BM, CH, CO and CA. This disintegration was proved by decreasing yields and increasing glucose contents indicating a lower share of amorphous matrix and a higher share of cellulose-xyloglucan network with rising steps of the sequential extraction. However, systematic alterations of galacturonan content, bulk density, solid density and porosity with increasing cell wall disintegration were not found. The hydration properties, determined as swelling and water retention capacities, decreased in the order BM, MMCO, CH and CA. Also, the structure-viscous and viscoelastic properties of the rehydrated CWM in the decreasing order CH, CO, BM, MM and CA were not in agreement with the order of the cell wall disintegration as well as with the order of the hydration properties. The results show a complex and multivariate correlation between structure, physical state and properties.     

Mechanism of zonal disintegration around deep underground excavations under triaxial stress – Insight from numerical test

The failure pattern and failure mechanism around deep underground excavations under tri-axial stress, in particular the zonal disintegration at different scales, were studied through three-dimensional numerical tests. It is found that the failure patterns of deep underground openings are obviously influenced by the triaxial stress. Zonal disintegration is a general failure mode of deep surrounding rock mass under high triaxial stress, where the alternate fracture zones and intact zones are formed by the intersection of the fully developed shear dominated fractures. The circular failure pattern of zonal disintegration is only a very specific failure pattern of zonal disintegration that is more likely to be formed when the horizontal stress in the direction of tunnel axis being the maximum principal stress. Sometimes the circular failure pattern of zonal disintegration is only the miss-judgment based on the limited borehole observations. Numerical results also denote that the heterogeneities of rock masses play a very important role on the scale of zonal disintegration.     

深部巷道破坏分区破裂规律三维相似材料实验

为了探究不同应力状态下巷道围岩的分区破裂规律、影响因素,选择沙土材料为相似材料进行三维模拟实验。试验采用3种加载方式：双向加载、 “圆筒模型加载”和真三轴加载,分别模拟不同采深时围岩的应力状态,巷道的断面形状分别选取了圆形、方形。模型试验研究表明：分区破裂属于空间剪切带破坏,平行于硐室轴线方向应力较大(约是材料抗压强度的1.6倍以上)是形成分区破裂的重要条件。影响分区破裂的因素有围压的大小与分布,开挖巷道所在岩层的相邻岩层性质。围压大且均匀,分区破裂范围大,围压较小且不均匀,分区破裂不明显。层与层之间材料不同时,会影响到裂纹的扩展。而硐室形状对分区破裂的影响因素较小。圆形、方形硐室周围都出现了分区破裂现象。     

Study on Absorption Rate by Eccentric Mechanical Stirring in Gas Injection Refining for Iron and Steel Making

In gas injection refining processes, a great amount of gas is injected into molten metal in short time, so that very large bubbles are inevitably formed. Wide dispersion of small bubbles in the bath is indispensable for high refining efficiency. Eccentric mechanical stirring with unidirectional impeller rotation was tested using a water model for pursuing better bubble disintegration and dispersion. Absorption rate are used to research on the influence law of the bubble dispersion and disintegration and gas-liquid absorption by the influence of, rotation mode, rotation speed and gas flow rate. Compared to the experimental results of absorption rate under eccentric stirring and centric stirring ,provide the scientific experimental and theoretical guidance for high-temperature experiment of hot metal desulfurization .According to experimental and theoretical analysis, this paper has studied various factors effecting on gas absorption process and volumetric mass transfer coefficient using the system of CO2-NaOH-H2O.The results show that:the volumetric mass transfer coefficient and absorption efficiency of CO2 can be increased under eccentric stirring mode, Because bubble disperse quickly with eccentric mechanical stirring, which results in promoting complete reaction between CO2 and NaOH, and improving the mass transfer coefficient and absorption. Volumetric mass transfer coefficient and efficiency of CO2 increase with the increasing rotation speed under the condition of eccentric stirring .But volumetric mass transfer coefficient and efficiency of CO2 decrease with the increasing rotation speed under the condition of centric stirring.     

Cryoprotective additives and cryostabilisation effects on muscle fillets of the freshwater teleost fish Rohu carp (Labeo rohita) during prolonged frozen storage

The effects of various cryoprotective additives separately and in combination were studied on the myofibrillar protein integrity, biochemical enzyme activity levels and muscle ultrastructure in the freshwater teleost fish Rohu carp (Labeo rohita). Fish muscle samples were divided into eight groups and immersed in different mixtures of cryoprotective additives (S1–S8), then frozen at ? 20 or ? 30 °C for 24 months. Electrophoretic studies revealed early (within 6 months) alteration of the myofibrillar proteins myosin light chain, α‐actinin and tropomyosin. Reduction of the storage temperature from ? 20 to ? 30 °C slowed down the degradative processes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that fish muscle treated with cryoprotective mixture S8 (40 g L^?1 sorbitol/3 g L^?1 sodium tripolyphosphate/4 g L^?1 sodium alginate) showed minimal post mortem changes in myofibrillar proteins. Ultrastructural results also revealed post mortem damage to the muscle, seen earliest (within 6 months) in the sample frozen‐stored without additives (S2), as compared with the normal, unfrozen muscle (S1). The influence of cryoprotectants alone and in combination on fish muscle structural proteins, myosin and actin filaments (A and I bands), during prolonged frozen storage was investigated. After 12 months, samples frozen‐stored with various cryoprotective additives (S2‐S7), except S8, showed signs of myofibrillar disintegration. Beyond that time the degradative processes started showing up in all samples, with minimal muscle ultrastructural damage in sample S8. Again, reducing the storage temperature from ? 20 to ? 30 °C slowed down the degradative processes. Ultrastructural results correlated well with levels of biochemical enzymes (Ca²⁺ myofibrillar ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase) during frozen storage. This is the first report of the cryoprotective effects of these additives on this popular edible fish species. Of the various combinations of additives tested, cryoprotective mixture S8 was found to preserve the muscle structure longest under frozen storage conditions. However, even this mixture was only effective for 18 months at ? 30 °C. Beyond that time the myofibrillar degradative processes were apparent with correlative electrophoretic, biochemical and ultrastructural studies. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development and validation of NIR-chemometric methods for chemical and pharmaceutical characterization of meloxicam tablets

Context: Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is an important component of a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) toolbox and is a key technology for enabling the rapid analysis of pharmaceutical tablets.

Objective: The aim of this research work was to develop and validate NIR-chemometric methods not only for the determination of active pharmaceutical ingredients content but also pharmaceutical properties (crushing strength, disintegration time) of meloxicam tablets.

Materials and methods: The development of the method for active content assay was performed on samples corresponding to 80%, 90%, 100%, 110% and 120% of meloxicam content and the development of the methods for pharmaceutical characterization was performed on samples prepared at seven different compression forces (ranging from 7 to 45?kN) using NIR transmission spectra of intact tablets and PLS as a regression method.

Results: The results show that the developed methods have good trueness, precision and accuracy and are appropriate for direct active content assay in tablets (ranging from 12 to 18 mg/tablet) and also for predicting crushing strength and disintegration time of intact meloxicam tablets.

Discussion: The comparative data show that the proposed methods are in good agreement with the reference methods currently used for the characterization of meloxicam tablets (HPLC-UV methods for the assay and European Pharmacopeia methods for determining the crushing strength and disintegration time).

Conclusion: The results show the possibility to predict both chemical properties (active content) and physical/pharmaceutical properties (crushing strength and disintegration time) directly, without any sample preparation, from the same NIR transmission spectrum of meloxicam tablets.     

破碎性地层概念界定及其破碎的热力学分析

借助于岩土工程、岩土力学、岩石力学、土木工程等学科,提出了破碎、破碎体（破碎性地层）概念。阐述了这类岩体的破坏方式、破坏的失稳类型。根据热力学定律和微观结构观点,岩体破碎过程实质上是一种内能耗散现象,破碎的发生意味着要耗散一部分能量去产生新的裂纹面。给出了破碎性地层的稳定准则,可用以确定裂纹的稳定状态。当裂纹失稳时,裂纹会向前扩展演化,产生新的裂纹,到一定程度后,将会导致岩体破碎。